Can-bottoming machine



' E. L. CROUCH.

CAN BOTTOMING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 28, 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920,

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Patented Dec. 14, 292%.,

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Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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CAN BOTTOMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1919.

Patented Dec.14,1920.

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UNITE!) STATES PATENT OFFICE;

EDWARD L. CROUCH, OF WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO B. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, OF WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-BOTTOMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. Cnooor-I, of Winston-Salem, in the county of F orsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Can-Bottoming Ma chine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines adapt ed to place bottoms in metallic cans and is more particularly used in the present adaptation for placing the bottoms in flat cans having rounded ends such as are extensively used in packaging tobacco.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine whereby the bottom and body of a can may be fitted together with efliciency and rapidity.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, is a side elevation of the complete machine, the parts more particularly concerned with this invention being in shaded lines. Fig. 2, is a horizontal sec tion in the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 1, showing the turntable in plan with only a portion of the pockets complete. Fig. 3, is a detail view of the means for rotating the turntable. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the support and lifter rollers, being a horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line H in Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate in detail different stages of the operation. Figs. 8 and 9, are longi tudinal sections of one of the pockets in the plane indicated by the line 99 in Fig. 2, and illustrate in detail the operation of the lifter for raising the bottomed can. Fig. 10 is a cross section of one of the pockets for the reception of the can body, in the plane indicated by the line 1010 in Fig. 7. Fig. 11, is a side view of the bottomed can as it leaves the machine. Fig. 12 is a top view of one of the recessed can bottoms. 13, is a top view of one of the bottom retainers or stakes. Parts are broken away in these figures wherever advantageous to the clearer illustration f the present invention.

Secured to the main support or standard 1 (Fig. 1) is a bracket 2 carrying a travel ing or rotary turntable A, which is fast on shaft B. E haft B, is journaled at its lower end to turn. in a bearing in bracket 9', and

at its upper end in a bearing in a socket 3, through which shaft B extends enabling spur pinion d, to be mounted thereon. This spur pinion receives power from worm gear 5, on power shaft 6, which is mounted to turn in an overhanging arm 7, which is bolted to standard 1. This power drive im' parts a continuous movement to the turntable.

Disposed around the edge of the traveling table A, is a series of upright pockets G, each with an open front face and top to receive the flat, round-ended can body 8, which is to be applied to an uncrimped, stamped, beveled, recessed bottom 9. Each of these pockets is enlarged at the bottom to allow for the reception and removal of this can bottom. Each pocket 0 is also slotted for the reception of the forward ends of can body gripping fingers at (Fig. 10) pivoted at b, and to which tension is applied by means of spring 0. WVithin and at the bottom of each pocket C, and secured to the turntable A, is a bottom retainer or stake D (Figs. 2 and 6) in the center of which is a hole, registering with a hole in the turntable, in which is loosely mounted an ejecting pin E (Figs. 8 and 9), which lifts a bot tomed can from the retainer. The retainer D, has substantially the same r0und-ended shape as the recess 10 in the can bottom 9, so as to receive and hold the bottom 9 se curely in accurate position to register with the interior of the can body, as the body is forced upon the bottom, in the manner hereinafter described.

A stamped bottom 9, is placed upon one of the stakes D, by hand, and a can body 8, is placed in one of the pockets C, above the bottom 9, the spring controlled fingers a.

yieldingly gripping the can body thus holding it in place. The turntable rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Because the workman will sometimes fail to place the can bottom in proper position upon the retainer D, provision is made to correct this automatically. Accordingly, as the filled pocket nears the point where the fitting together takes place, the can bottom passes a stationary positioner F, (Figs. 1 and 2) shown bolted to the standard 1. The free end of this positioner F rides alon the periphery of the turntable ready to encounter an improperly placed can bottomto push it back within the recess at the bottom of the pocket C, so that the recess 10 in the can bottom will register with the retainer D, and permit the bottom 9 to drop thereupon, where it will be in correct alinement to engage with the can body when the latter is forced upon it.

The can bodies as they come to the machine are not always symmetrical with their two flat sides parallel. It frequently happens that one or both flat sides are bulged outwardly with a corresponding bringing together of the two rounded ends. If a can body in this condition is placed in one of the pockets its bottom edge will not register accurately with the can bottom beneath and, accordingly, may not be fitted to the can bottom when forced down thereupon. In order to bring the can body into shape and hold it during the uniting operation, a stationary guard G is located in the range of the outwardly bowed surfaces of the can bodies as the turntable rotates. This guard, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, is located at the place where the can body passes as it is started down upon the recessed can bottom. This guard presses inwardly any outwardly bowed outer surface of a can body and maintains it parallel with the opposite side dur ing the uniting operation. This bringing of the two flat sides in parallelism also maintains the two rounded'ends of the-can body spread properly apart so that the rounded ends as well asthe sides of the can boc y register with the recessed can bottom during the union. Also should a can body not be fully inserted into a pocket with its inner side against the inner wall of the pocket, this stationary guard will push the misplaced can body into proper place within the pocket.

A swinging carrier H (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) is pivoted at 11 to the standard 1. The lower end of thiscarrier is forked (Fig. 1) to carry a presser I mounted to swing upon apin 12 which passes through the fork of the carrier and the presser. As the can advances, its advancing rounded edge, which is above the upper edge of the pocket, @11- gages a downward projection J, likewise rounded, of the presser I. The upper surface K, of the presser engages with oppositely inclined, intersecting surfaces L and M, at the lower end of the carrier within the fork. The surface K of the presser normally engages surface L, and is maintained there by spring N, while carrier H is maintained normally against stop O, by a spring P.

Fig. 5, illustrates the normal position of the carrier H and in dotted linesthe normal position of the presser I. Fig. 5, in full lines, shows the position of the presser I, just after the advancing edge of the can body s, engages it. As the can travels in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, the presser I, is swung on its pivot so that the bottom surface thereof engages with the entire upper edge of the can body, as shown in Fig. 6. At the same time, upper surfaceK of the presser I is brought into contact with the inclined face M, of the carrier, so that any further tilt of the presser foot on its carrier is prevented.

During the movement from the position shown in Fig. 6, to that shown in Fig. 7, the presser foot continues its parallel position with the upper periphery of the can, but during this movement the carrier is swung forwardly on its pivot 11, thereby forcing the presser and the can bony downwardly with the result that the lower edge of the can body is forced over the beveled sides of the upwardly projecting recessed portion of the can bottom, thereby wedging the body of the can body upon thebottom to a firm union therewith, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 7. As the can body reaches this point of union, the presser I is just riding over the point Q which marks the intersection of the beveled faces L and M. As the can continues its movement in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7, the carrier rises on the opposite side of the are carrying with it the presser I while swinging on its pivot until the upper surface K again engages with the inclined surface L. The dotted lines in Fig. 7 show the last position at which parallelism exists between the presser and the can. Beyond this point, the presser I is raised until the downward projection J becomes disengaged from the can, permitting the can to pass on, and freeing the presser I and carrier H, for return to their normal positions by the spring N and P, ready for engagement with the next can.

At the point where the can body isv forced into engagement with the can bottom, as just described, there is a downward pressure exerted upon the turntable. To resist this pressure there is provided a support roller R, beneath the turntable mounted'to turn in bearings S (Figs. 1. and 4c).

The bottomed can must be removed from the pocket before another body and bottom are placed therein. To facilitate the removal, and to prevent the possibility of a can bottom sticking to the retainer, .there is located beneath the turntable rolling cam T, journaled in a fixed bracket U. As the can continues to move, the pin E (Figs. 8 and 9), of which thereis one for each pocket, rides over the rolling cam T, thus positively raising the bottomed can clear of the retainer D, as shown in Fig. 9, so that it may be easily removed by the workman, who is given'ample room to take hold of the top of the can to-pull it out, by. the cut away portion (Z, of the rear of the pocket. The spring controlled fingers (1 also readily yield to permit the removal of the can. As the pin E, rides off the can T, it returns by gravity to its normal lower idle position, shown in Fig. 8. Collar e, on pin E, within a socket in the turntable, prevents the pin from dropping out, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

This completes one cycle of operation of the machine.

The machine can be attended to by a single workman or more than one workman can be employed, one to remove the finished cans, another to place the bottoms in place on the stakes, and another to insert the can bodies in the pockets.

1 claim.

1. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a standard; a rotary turntable; power means for driving said turntable; a series of pockets carried by said turntable each having an open face and top, said pockets being adapted to receive a flat, round-ended can body which is inserted in said pocket by hand, each of said pockets being equipped with yielding gripping fingers for yieldingly retaining a. can body within said pocket; a beveled can bottom retainer secured to said turntable within and at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive an uncrimped can bottom having a beveled recess of the same contour as said can body, and maintain it in alinement with the interior of said can body; a stationary positioner for said can bottoms which bears along the periphery of the turntable and positions an improperly placed can bottom properly upon its retainer; a stationary guard for said can body acting upon the outer face of the can body to cause the can body to register with said can bottom; a swinging carrier pivoted to said standard, and normally held against a stop on said standard by a spring, said carrier having its lower end forked, and two oppositely inclined intersecting surfaces on the interior of said fork; a presser pivoted in said fork and normally held by a spring so that its upper surface is against one of said inclined surfaces; a downward projection on said presser in the path of said can so that the advancing edge of the can engages said downward projection, thereby bringing the lower surface of said presser parallel with and resting upon the upper periphery of said can until the upper surface of said presser engages with the other of the inclined surfaces and further tilt of said presser is prevented, this parallelism continuing as the carrier is swung downwardly thereby forcing the can down upon the can bottom into firm union therewith, said springs returning said foot and carrier to their normal positions after the continued advance of the can body causes the upper surface of the presser to reengage with the first mentioned inclined surface thereby preventing the further tilt of the presser in the opposite direction, after which parallelism is broken between presser and can body; a support roller for resisting the downwart pressure on the turntable at the point where the can body is wedged upon the can bottom; a rolling cam; an ejecting pin carried by the turntable at each bottom retainer and cooperating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clear of said bottom retainer.

2. A can bottoming machine having in combination a standard; a rotary turntable; power means for driving said turntable; a series of pockets carried by said turntable each having an open face and top, said pockets being adapted to receive a can body, inserted in said pocket by hand, each of said pockets having yielding gripping fingers for yieldingly retaining said can body within said pocket; a beveled can bottom retainer secured to said turntable within and at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a hand inserted uncrimped can bottom of the same contour as said can body and maintain it in alinement with the interior of said can body; a stationary positioner for said can bottoms for positioning an improperly placed can bottom upon its retainer; a stationary guard for said can body acting to press upon its outer face and cause it to register with said can bottom; a swinging carrier pivoted to said standard, and normally held against a stop on said standard by a spring, said carrier having its lower end forked, and oppositely inclined intersecting surfaces cut on the interior of said fork; a presser carr'ed by said swinging carrier fitting in said fork, and normally held by a spring so that its upper surface is against one of said surfaces; a down- \vard projection on said presser in the path. of said can so that the advancing edge of the can engages said downward projection, thereby bringing the lower surface of said presser to rest upon the upper periphery of said can until the upper surface of said presser engages with the other of the in clined surfaces preventing further tilt of said presser, whereupon the carrier is swung downwardly thereby forcing the can down upon the can bottom into firm union therewith, said springs returning said presser and carrier to their normal positions after the continued advance of the can body causes the upper surface of the presser to rengage with the first mentioned inclined surface thereby preventing the further tilt of the foot in the opposite direction; a support roller for resisting downward pressure on the turntable; a rolling cam; an ejecting pin carried by the turntable at each bottom retainer and cooperating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clear of said bottom retainer.

3. A can bottoming machine having in combination a standard, a rotary turntable, power means for driving said turntable; a series of pockets carried by said turntable each having an open face and top, and adapted to receive a can body, each of'said pockets bein equipped with yielding gripping fingers for retaining the can body within said pockets; a beveled can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a beveled, recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement withthe interior of said can body; a positioner for said can bottoms; a stationary guard for the can bodies; a swinging-carrier pivoted to said standard, normally: held against a stop by a spring; two oppositely inclined intersecting beveled surfaces on said carrier; a presser pivotally carriedby said swinging carrier and normally held by. a spring against one of said inclined surfaces; a downward projection on, said presser engaged by the advancing edge of an advancing can body, thereby bringing said presser parallel with the upper periphery of said can until the upper surface of said presser engages with the other of the inclined surfaces, this parallelism continuing as the carrier swings downwardly thereby forcing the can upon the can bottom, said springs returning said presser and carrier to their normal positions after the continued advance of the can body causes this parallelism to be broken; a support roller for said turntable; a cam; and an ejectingpin at each bottom retainer, cooperating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clearof said bottom retainer. 7

at. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a traveling table, pockets carriedby said table adapted to receive a can body, each pocket equipped with yielding fingers for retaining the can body within said pocket; a can bottom retainer within each of said pockets, adapted'to receive a can bottom; a positioner for saidcan bot-V toms; a guide forsaid can body; a swinging carrier normally held against a stop bya spring; inclined surfaces on said carrier; a presser pivotally carried bysaid swinging carrier and normally held by a spring against one of said inclined surfaces; a downward projection on said presser engaged by the advancing edge of the can body whereby the presser in swung to forcethe can body upon the can bottom as the can continues to travel, said spring returning said presser and carrier to their normal positions after said body and bottom are united; a cam, and a lifter cooperating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clearof said bottom retainer.

5. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a fixed-standard; a rotaryturntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets 1 carriedbysaid turntable, each -having an open face and top and adapted to re ceive a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a stationary positioner F for the can bottoms into range of which the can bottoms are successively brought as the turntable rotates; a stationary guard G for the can bodies into range of which outwardly-bowed surfaces of the-can bodies are brought as the turntable rotates; a swinging carrier H pivoted to said standard havingtwo oppo sitely inclined intersecting beveled surfaces at its lower end; a fixed stop 0; a spring P normallyholding the carrier against said stop; a can body presser I pivoted to the lower end of said carrier; a spring N normally holding the presser against one of-said inclined surfaces; a downward projection J on said presser adapted to be engaged by the advancing edge of a moving can'body whereby said presser is swung on theccarrier until the upper surface of said presser engages with the second of said inclined surfaces, this condition continuing as the carrier then swings forwardly due to the continued advance of the can body whereby the presser moves downwardly and forces the can body upon the can bottom, said presser and carrier being returned by said springs to their normal positions-after the presser has been released by the continued advance of the can body; a support roller R- beneath the turntable at the pressing position; a cam T be yond said roller; and an ejecting pin E carried by the turntable at each bottom retainer and coii'perating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clear offsaid bottom retainer.

6. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a fixed standard; a. rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets carried by said turntable, each having an open face and top and adapted to receive a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of'each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessedcan bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a swinging carrier pivoted to said standard having two oppositely inclined intersecting beveled surfaces at its lower end; a fixed stop; a spring normally holding the carrier against said stop; a can-body presser pivoted to the lower end of said carrier; a spring normally holding the presser against one of said inclined surfaces; and a downward projection on said presser adapted to be engaged by the advancing edge of a moving can body whereby said presser is swung on the carrier until the upper surface of said presser engages with the second of said inclined surfaces, this condition continuing as the carrierthen swings forwardly due to the-continuedadvance of the can body where: by the presser moves downwardly and forces the can body upon the can bottom, said presser and carrier being returned by said springs to their normal positions after the presser has been released by the continued advance of the can body.

7. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a fixed standard; a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of can body holding pockets carried by said turntable; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in :alinementwith the can body; a swinging carrier pivoted to said standard having two oppositely inclined intersecting beveled surfaces at its lower end; a presser pivoted to the lower end of said carrier; and a downward projection on said presser adapted to be engaged by the advancing edge of a moving can body whereby said presser is swung on the carrier until the upper surface of said presser engages with the second of said inclined surfaces, this condition continuing as the carrier then swings forwardly due to the continued advance of the can body whereby the presser moves downwardly and forces the can body upon the can bottom.

8. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a fixed standard; a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of can body holding pockets carried by said turntable; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a swinging carrier pivoted to said standard; a presser pivoted to the lower end of said carrier; and a projection on said presser adapted to be engaged by the advancing edge of a moving can body whereby said presser is first swung on the carrier and thereafter swings both carrier and presser forwardly together due to the continued advance of the can body whereby the presser moves downwardly and forces the can body upon the can bottom.

9. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a fixed standard; a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets carried by said turntable, each having an open face and top and adapted to receive a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a stationary positioner for the can bottoms into range of which the can bottoms are brought as the turntable rotates; and a presser which forces the can bottom and can body together as they travel past the presser.

10. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets carried by said turntable, face adapted to each having an open outer receive a can body, a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a stationary positioner for the can bottoms into range of which the can bottoms are brought as the turntable rotates; a stationary guard for the can bodies into range of which outwardly bowed surfaces of the can bodies are brought as the turntable rotates; and a presser which forces the alined can bottom and can body together.

11. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets carried by said turntable, each adapted to receive a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each of said pockets, adapted to receive a recessed can bottom and maintain it in alinement with the can body; a presser which forces the can bottom and can body together; a cam beyond the presser; and an ejecting pin carried by the turntable at each bottom retainer and cooperating with said cam to lift the bottomed cans clear of said bottom retainer.

12. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a continuously moving rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series 01 pockets on said turntable each of which receives and carries a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each pocket to receive a can bottom; and a presser in the path of the advancing can bodies which is actuated by each engaging and moving can body to force the can body upon the can bottom.

13. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a rotary turntable; a power drive therefor; a series of pockets on said turntable each of which receives and carries a can body; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of each pocket to receive a can bottom; and a presser in the path of the advancing can bodies which is actuated by each engaging and moving can body to force the can body upon the can bottom.

14. A can bottoming machine having, in combination, a traveling can body holding pocket; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of said pocket to receive a can bottom; and a presser in the path of the advancing can body which is actuated by each engaging can body to force the can body and can bottom to ether.

15. can bottoming machine having, in combination, a traveling can body holding pocket; a can bottom retainer at the bottom of said pocket to receive a can bottom; and a presser adjacent the path of the advancing cans which is actuated as the pocket travels past to force the can body and can bottom to ether.

in witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

EDWARD L. CROUCH. 

